The Big Lottery Fund's Joanne McDowell presented a cheque for £48,000 to members of Kaleidoscope, former winners of the People's Millions vote

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

It's time to get voting as the Big Lottery Fund community competition kicks off today with up to £150,000 at stake.

Five groups from across Northern Ireland have been shortlisted for the People’s Projects and will be competing to win a National Lottery award to make big changes in their communities.

The projects are the Connecting Caring project from Positive Futures, the LILAC House project from Autonomie, the New Multi-Sensory Equipment project from the

Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, the Our World project from MAC (NI) and the Recipe for Success project form Foyle Down Syndrome Trust.

Over five days this week, one group each day will make their case for Belfast Live readers’ support to take home up to £50,000, with the public voting to help decide who wins the prize. UTV Live evening news will also feature the projects at 6pm over five nights starting tonight (Monday February 29).

The three projects that get the highest votes across the voting period will win up to £50,000 for life-changing projects, with the winners announced on 16 March. You can find out about all five projects and vote online from 9am today [Monday 29 February] until midday on Sunday 13 March on the People’s Projects website – www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk

* A postal vote option is available for people who don’t have access to a computer. Voting closes on Sunday 13 March at midday. You can only vote once per region and you’ll need an email address to vote. T&C’s at www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk If you don’t have a valid email address, you can vote by post by sending a postcard to ‘Freepost THE PEOPLE’S PROJECTS’. To be counted, the following details must be clearly written on the postcard: your name, address and telephone number and the name of the project you wish to vote for. Postal votes must be received by noon on Sunday 13 March 2016.

Positive Futures – Connecting Caring project, Lisburn and Bangor

John Powell (84) who is a carer to his daughter Jacqueline (53) who has a learning disability and uses a wheelchair. Picture by Brian Morrison

As a full time carer to his daughter Jacqueline, John Powell (84) from Lambeg knows what it is like to feel alone. Until five years ago he had the support of his beloved wife Winifred who helped care for Jacqueline (53) who has a learning disability and is a wheelchair user. But when Winifred passed away aged 82, the family found it difficult to cope.

John said: “Jacqueline was born with spina bifida. She also had a spinal fluid leak at the base of her skull. She had to have a lot of operations on her brain as a baby.

This has caused difficulties with her balance which means that Jacqueline is not able to walk.

“She also has a learning disability – she doesn’t understand things like money, and she can’t read or write. She also has problems with her speech. I can make out most things but strangers couldn’t.

“Winnie was a nurse and she gave up her work when Jacqueline was born to care for her. She didn’t have a choice – I was working as a lorry driver and someone had to be at home to be a full time carer to Jacqueline.”

Life was hard – but happy. The couple had two more children - daughter Patricia (52) who now lives in Dublin and son Adrian (50) who lives in Lisburn.

John Powell (84) who is a carer to his daughter Jacqueline (53) who has a learning disability and uses a wheelchair. Picture by Brian Morrison

But despite the wider family’s support, since Winnie died five years ago, John admits it’s been a struggle.

John said: “Winnie fell at home and broke her femur. She was brought into hospital and was due to get a hip replacement. And then in the early hours we got the phone call – she had passed away. It was a big shock.

“I was in a very bad place. It was a couple of very rough years – mentally and physically. Jacqueline too was very upset,” he said.

Winnie’s death left the family more isolated, as John found it hard to bring

Jacqueline out as they had done as a family in the past. “We just ended up sitting in the house all the time,” he said.

The family struggled on for a year or so until a social worker put John in touch with Positive Futures, who support people with a learning disability, acquired brain

injury and autistic spectrum condition and their families. It was then that things began to turn around.

John's beloved wife Winifred who helped care for Jacqueline

“I called them up and ended up going along to a meeting. Since then the support and advice we have got from them has been unbelievable,” he said.

One of the most important aspects for John is the chance to meet other carers.

He’s been active in the “COSYSET” group – a social and support group led by the carers themselves.

“Before I got involved, I didn’t know anyone else who was caring for a loved one.

"Now I’ve met a lot of lovely people who are in the same position as me and I’ve made a lot of friends," he said.

At 84, John’s health is also a concern. He suffered a minor stroke a couple of days before this interview and worries about the future.

“It was a small stroke. But you can’t let it slow you down. You just go on as long as you can. I do worry about Jacqueline but Positive Futures has helped me to start to

plan for the future and what will happen after I go.”

For Jacqueline too, Positive Futures’ support has been a new lease of life. John said: “Jacqueline is part of the Get Up and Go group and they go on trips out, to shows and bowling which she loves. They also go disco-dancing at the Black Box’s Black Moon events for people with learning disabilities.

“It means an awful lot to Jacqueline to get out. And when she’s happy, I’m happy.

“Now I don’t know what I would do without Positive Futures’ support. Without them I’d be back to square one.”

It’s this kind of support that has made such a difference to the Powells that Positive Futures want to build on if they win the People’s Projects.

“We’re positive about people - people with a learning disability, those with acquired brain injury and people on the autistic spectrum.

“We currently have the Better Futures programme for older people who care for a family member with a learning disability and money from the People’s Projects would be used to further that work within a new Connecting Caring programme.

“Older carers often feel isolated and are fearful about the future care of their children so we provide advice and practical supports as well as helping them plan for the future.

“This funding would also allow us to improve the life skills of the person being cared for and increase their connection with the world outside their home, looking towards a time when they may not be cared for at home.

“This would be very much a carers-led project, including recruiting more volunteers to help tackle isolation and challenge stereotypes about both older people and people with a disability who have so much to contribute to society.”